Knitting machine



M. c. MILLER KNITTING MACHINE 3 Sheds-Sheet 1 Filed May 29, 1937 QNNQWN.

INVENTOR R Z M BY 22-! MM W ATTORN EYS Oct; 8, 1940.

M. c. MILLER" KNI'J' TING MACHINE a Shets-Sheet 2 Filed May 29, 1957Oct. 8, 1940. M. c. MILLER 2,217,521

KNITTING MACHINE Filed May 29, 1937 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR ,wa 5 BY*aJ W I ATT NEY Patented Oct. 8, a

KNITTING MACHINE Max 0. Miller, Cumberland, B. 1., minor to KnittingMachine Corporation, a corporation of Delaware Application May 29, 1937,Serial No. 145,498 so, Claims. (01. as-as) The present invention relatesto improvements in welt mechanism for flat knitting machines,

and more particularly to improvements in takeup mechanism for engagingwith and tensioning the fold of welt fabric away from the needles.

The invention is herein disclosedin a preferred form as embodied in afull-fashioned machine having automatic devices for setting up aninitial course of welt fabric, and for thereafter turning the welt,together with take-up mechanism including a welt wire for each knittingsection and take-up devices associated therewith which are automaticallytripped into -active,operation prior to the turning of the welt. Withthis construction and arrangement of the weltturning mechani'sm, it isnecessary for the operator to lay in the welt wires and attach them tothe usual fabric take-up straps after commencing the new set. Experiencehas shown that in the operation of 0 high speed full-fashioned machinesof either the single or multiple section type :1 which the operator hasthe care of a relatively large number of knitting sections, the operatorhas not a sufficient amount of time in which to lay in the welt wiresand to attach the usual fabric take-ups thereto during the knitting ofthe initial courses of the welt fabric, with the result that the machinemust be stopped or an assistant employed to assist in this operation.

:10 It is a principal object of the present invention to provide noveland improved welt fabric take-up mechanism including supporting andactuating means for the take-up wires constructed and arranged for fullyautomatic operation to :5 engage with and take up the knitted fabricwithout the necessity of any particular attention on the part of theoperator after the commencing of the new set.

It is more specifically an object of the present invention to providemechanism for laying in and supporting the welt wires which will enablethese wires tobe placed in position during the knitting of a previousset at some stage in the operation when more time is available, andthereafter to be operatively connected with fabric take-up meansoperating in the usual manner to tension the fabric away from theneedles.

It is a further object of the invention to provide supporting andactuating devices for the 50 weltwires and the take-up means associatedtherewith, constructed and arranged for auto- \matic operation to engagethe take-up means with and to move the welt wires into active operationduring the knitting of the welt fabric.

5 With these and other objects in view, as may hereinafter appear, theseveral features of the invention consist also in the devices,combinations and arrangement of parts which together with the advantagesto be obtained thereby will be readily understood by one skilled in theart from 5 the following description taken in connection with theaccompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 is a partial view in frontelevation of a fiat fullfashioned knitting machine, only so much of themachine being shown as is believed necessary to ill illustrate theconnection of the present invention therewith; Fig. 2 is a sectionalview taken on the line 2- -2 of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is an enlarged detail'view of the hook portion of the wire pendant take-up illustrated inFig. 2; Fig. 4. is a detail 15 view of the parts shown in Fig. 3 lookingfrom the left; Fig. 5 is an enlarged detail view of the picot bar andwelt wire support secured thereto; Fig. 6 is a detail plan viewillustrating substantially the parts shown in Fig. 5; Fig. 7 is a detailview in front elevation of portions of the fabric take-up mechanismillustrated in Fig. 2; and

Figs. 8 to 14 inclusive, are a series of partial views on an enlargedscale looking from the left, illustrating. particularly the relativepositions of the 25 needles, the narrowing machine including the picotbar and welt wire support and welt wire take-up, during the successivestages of the operation to engage the take-up with and move the weltwire into engagement with the welt fabric. 80

The machine disclosed in the drawings comprises a. flat full-fashionedmultiple section knitting machine which may be of ordinary descrip--tion, and is provided with an automatic welt turning mechanism which issubstantially iden- 35 tical except as hereinafter set forth, with thatset forth in applicant's copending application Serial No. 726,285, filedMay 18, 1934. The knitting instrumentalities of the machine, as bestshown in Figs. 1 and 2, include a series of spring 49 beard. needles 20for each knitting section, supported on needle bars 22 for movement withrelation to a fixed press edge formed on the sinker bed 24, knockovers-26 and yarn measuring sinkers 2B. The machine is also provided with theusual narrowing machine frame including the vertically movablenarrowingmachine support bar 30 having secured thereto brackets 32 for thenarrowing point rods 34 and narrowing point units 36. Thereis alsoprovided with each section of the machine, a picot bar 38 carrying picotpoints 40 and rotatably mounted on a picot rod 52 which is supported inthe usual manner in brackets (not shown) for vertical movement with thenarrowing machine support rod 30. The 55 work table of the machine isshown at 44 mounted on the usual transverse machine frame members SJ Thewelt turning mechanism for the machine, comprises a welt hook bar 50 foreach section of the machine, having vertically arranged welt hooks52,.and supported for movement toward and away from the needles on apendant 5| which is pivotally supported above the needles on a pivotshaft 56. The shaft 56 is in turn supported for vertical movement onsupporting lever arms 58 mounted to turn on a shaft 60. For supportingcertain operating mechanisms of the machine, and more particularly thewelt shaft 56, upwardly extending brackets 62 are provided at spacedintervals along the machine length rigidly mounted at their lower endson the: work table 44. Inasmuch as these mechanisms as thus fardescribed, are fully illustrated and described in applicants copendingapplication above referred to, and form specifically no part of thepresent invention, no further description or illustration thereof isbelieved necessary.

In carrying out the present invention, a fabric take-up mechanism isprovided having a number of novel features of construction and mode ofoperation to enable the welt wires to be laid into the machine prior tothe commencing of a new set, and subsequently to be brought into activeoperation automatically during the knitting of the welt fabric to engagewith and take up the fold of welt fabric. The instrumentalities employedfor these purposes in the preferred form of the invention illustrated,comprise supporting means for the welt wires constructed and arranged tosupport the welt wires in a position which will not interfere with theoperation of the various knitting instrumentalities of the machineincluding the pendant welt bar, above described, and an. auxiliaryfabric take-up device which is constructed and arranged to engage withand move the welt wires away from their supports to engage with andtension the fold of welt fabric away from the needles, and subsequentlyafter the knitting of a sufficient amount of additional fabric, to causethe welt wires and fabric engaged thereby to be operatively connectedwith and wound upon the usual fabric take-up rolls of the machine. Theauxiliary take-up, having delivered the welt wires and fabric supportedthereon to the fabric rollers, may then be returned to inoperativeposition and can be utilized in the knitting of the next succeeding setwithout any necessity on the part of the operator for first clearing thefabric take-up rollers of the previously cast-off set. To furtherfacilitate in the operation of the device, it is contemplated that aspare set of welt wires will be employed which may be laid in on theirsupports during the latter stages of the knitting of the set and beforethe welt wires utilized in knitting the previous set are removed fromthe machine.

In accordance with one feature of the invention, supporting means areprovided for the welt wires, constructed and arranged to permit thelaying in of the welt wires on their supports during the knitting of aprevious set, in such a position that they will not interfere in any waywith the operation of the various cooperating mechanisms of the machine,and may subsequently be brought into active operation during theknitting of the weltfabric, without the necessity of further individualattention on the part of the operator.

As best shown in Figs. 2, 5 and 6 of the drawings, two welt wiresupporting brackets 10 are rigidly secured to each picot bar 39, onebeing mounted adjacent each end of the bar. The brackets 10 are providedwith recesses 12 to .receive the welt wire 14 which is provided adjacenteach end thereof with a reduced portion in the form of an annular groove16 arranged to fit within the recess 12. The brackets 10 are mounted inan inverted position on the outer or forward face of the picot bar 98,so that when the picot bars 39 are swung upwardly to their inoperativeposition, the open ends of the recess I2 will face upwardly to permitthe operator conveniently to drop the welt wire into its holder. Each ofthe brackets 10 is slotted to receive a spring lock latch 18 pivotallysupported on a pin 80, and provided with a V-shaped'cam surface arranged'to project across the slot I2. A small compression spring 82 seated ina recess in the bracket 10, tends to maintain the latch 18 in a fullyadvanced position against a stop pin 84 to prevent the falling out ofthe welt wire 14 when the picot bar 99 with the'brackets I0 is swungforwardly and down to its operative position. With this construction andarrangement of the welt wire support, it will readily be seen that thewelt wire 14 may be laid into its holders 12 at any time during theknitting of the previous set after the picot bar 38 has been raised toits inoperative position, and while so supported, will not interferewith the operation of the various cooperating mechanisms of the machine,and more particularly with the movement of the welt bar 50 and pendant54 to engage with and remove from the needles the initial course of weltfabric. When the picot bars 38 are now swung downwardly to theiroperative positions in the usual manner for the knitting of the picot orhalfway special welt course, the welt wires are at the same time movedinto position for subsequent engagement by the take-up, as hereinaftermore fully set forth.

The fabric take-up mechanism illustrated as embodying in a preferredform certain features of applicant's invention, comprises the usualfabric take-up rollers 99, one being provided for each knitting sectionof the machine rigidly secured to a take-up shaft 92 rotatably mountedin stationary brackets 94 on the transverse frames 46. The shaft 92 maybe tensioned by any convenient means as, for instance, by means ofweights 9|, take-up strap 93 and pulley 95, connected to turn with shaft92 by pawl 91 and ratchet 99 (see Fig. 1), to impart a rotatable take-uptensioning strain to the fabric take-up rollers 90.

In accordance with one feature of the invention, a novel take-up deviceis employed to engage with and tension the welt wires 14 against thefabric, and thereafter to cause the welt wires and fabric attachedthereto, to be connected with and rolled onto the take-up rollers 90.The welt wire take-up, as best shown in Figs, 1 and 2, comprises a pairof resilient wire pendants 96 for each knitting section, which arerigidly secured at their upper ends to a welt wire take-up shaft 98supported at intervals along the length of the machine by extensionbrackets I00 adjustably supported on a fixed shaft I02 mounted on theoverhead brackets 62. Each of the wire pendants 96 is adjacent its lowerend sloped ranged to be moved rearwardly and to be sup- 1 with androlled .orito the usual take-up rollers receive a hook I04 which isprovided with a pin I08 by means of a small tensionspring IIO adjacent.the hub portion thereof, with a lug connected between the tail of thehook I04 and I60 for engagement with a notched tail portion a bracketII2 on the wire pendant 96. The I62 formed on'one of the grabs I50.A-torsion bracket 2 also carries a pivot pin II4 which spring I64 coiledabout the pivot pin I54 and provides a pivotal support for a lockinglatch secured at one end to a collar I66 thereon (see member II6 havinga curved contact surface II8 Fig. 1), and at its other end to the hub ofthe for engagement with the welt wires I4. .The latch lever I52, tendsnormally to maintain the latch member I I6 is held yielding-1y inoperative lever in latching position. A stop screw I63 supposition bymeans of a small compression spring ported on an arm of the latch leverI52 is ar- I20 seated in a recess formed in the wire pendant ranged forengagement a ainst the sl ve hub 96. For controlling the operation ofthe wire for the idler roller I26 .to limit the rearward pendants 96,there is secured to the rock shaft m v ment of the latch lever I52 underthe pies 98, a downwardly extending arm I24 which i sure of its spring.The forward movement of tensioned forwardly by means of a take-up strapthe pendant take-ups 06 and lever arm I24 under I26 passing over anidler roller I28, being con-- the influence of the take-upstrap islimited nected at one 'end to the arm I24, and at its y he en a ement ofthe lever arm I24 with a other end to a weight I29. stop screw I'I0supported on an upward exten- .Thewire pendants are constructed and sionI12 of the stationary bracket I56.

The operation may be briefly described as follows: I

ported in close proximity to the needles for en- Let us assume that thefabric has been pressed gagement with the welt wires I4 by means of alatch mechanism which comprises a latch lever I30 pivotally supported ona bracket I32 secured to the adjustable supporting arm I00, and is pro--vided at its forward end with a hook arranged th pendant ta -ups 96 arin th positi for engagement with a lug I34 on the lever arm shown indotndh lin wi h I24. .At its rear end the latch lever I30 is prograbsI50 not in their locked position as shown in vided with a pin I36 forengagement within a. Sol d l es in y' e o of the act t a slot formed bythe looped upper end of a link I38. The link I38 extends downwardlythrough with the lever I24. The spare set of welt wires an apertureformed in the usual picot coverplate I4, at this time, are all inposition in their sup- I40, and has screw-threadedto its-lower end anports e machine iS pped at t time adjustable lock nut I42 which isarranged during the downward movement of the narrowing their respectiverolls 90, the operator, prepares machine in forming the picot, to engageagainst the turned welt mechanism for action, as dethe under side of thecover plate torelease scribed in the copending welt application. The thelatch and permit the movement of the pendpendant take-ups 96 and leveror levers I24 are ant take-up members 96 away from the needles, nowswungforward manually into their solid line as more fully set forth inconnectionwith the position, Fig.- 2,'where they are locked inposifollowing description of the operation of the detion by the latch orlatches I30. The take-up vice. A tension spring I44 secured at one endrollers 90 and grabs I50 secured thereto, are now 90 in the ordinarymanner. During this time the to the bracket I32 and at its other end toa collar turned to the solid line position shown in Fig. 2,-

I46 on the link I38, tends to-swingthe latch lever I30 in a clockwisedirection as shown in Fig. 2; into latching position, this movementbeing limited by the engagement of a stop screw I48 on the latch lever,with a forward extension of the bracket I32.

Further in accordance with the present invenin which they are held bythe engagement of the lug I60 on latch lever I52 with the notched tailI62. The machine is now put into power operation, the welt pendantsfunctioning a described in the copending application, to form the fabricset-up and to take up the fabric as it is knitted. After a short lengthof welt fabric counterweight take-up pendant lever I24 and and withouttaking the'prev'ious .set of fabrics oil tall carries a stop screw I58.for' engagement with Y which is held yieldingly in position against astop the control lever I24. The lever I52 is provided off and that it iswound around the fabric rolls the upper screw I58 of the lever I52 is incontact 1 tion, mechanism is provided which is rendered has been formedand before it is necessary to operative during the continued knitting ofthe stocking blank, to disconnect the welt wires I4 and fabric heldthereon, from the pendant takeups 96, and to cause the fabric to beengaged form the picot or half-way special welt course, the operator,following the customary procedure in full-fashioned machines, manuallyturns down the picot bar to the position shown in Fig. 9.

90. ,To this end, a hook-shaped grab I50 is chine then causes thenarrowing machine on rigidly secured to each end of the take-up rollerwhich the picot bar is supported, to move down- 90 associated With eachknitting section to enward to commence the forming of the picot gagewith and receive-the welt wire I4 from course. As the narrowing machinemakes this the pendant take-up hooks I04. The take-up downwardmovement,rthe welt wires I4 engage roller shaft 92 and rollers 90 withthe grabs I58, the rearwardly sloping lower ends of the pendant are norally h in a predetermined u ar take-ups 96 as shown in Fig. 10. As thesewires position against the pressure of the usual akeare flexible, theywill, upon continued downward upstraps and weights associated therewith,by movement of the narrowing machine and welt means of a latch mechanismwhich is arranged wires I4, be forced outwardly in'the' direction of tobe t pp y the forward movement of the. the arrow, Fig. l0, so that thewelt wires will encontrol lever I24 when the knitting of the fabric gageth and fold upwardly t hooks m4 has progressed far enough to bring thewelt wires against the pull of their springs I I0, illustrated in I4supported by the pendant take-ups into posi- Fig. 3, and so snap' by thelower end of these tion to be engaged by the grabs. This trip mechhooksallowing the take-ups 96 to return again At the proper time the patternchain of the maanism comprises an upwardly extending lever I52 into theposition shown in Fig. 11. During this which is pivoted at its lower endon a. pin I54 first or loop taking down movement, the narrowonastationary bracket I56, and atits upper end ing machine does not movedownwardly far enough to engage stop nut I42 on the link I38 with theguard rail I40, and so does not actuate and disengage the latch I30 fromthe lug I34 of the lever I24, Fig. 2. The narrowing machine then liftsfrom the Fig. 11 position to a position where the welt wires almostcontact the lower surface of the latches H6, but without any effectthereon. In this intermediate position, the narrowing machine restsamoment as is customary to permit a lateral movement of the picot pointbars before the narrowing machine continues its second and more extendeddownward movement, which movement now causes the guard rail I40 toengage with and depress the stop nut I42 and link I38, to disengage thelatch I30 from the lug I34, thereby permitting the welt wires I4 to beacted upon by the take-up cord I26, in this manner positioning the hooksI04 against the welt wires I4, as shown in Fig. 12. Continued upwardmovement of the narrowing machine incidental to the transfer of theloops now on the picot points to the needles, causes the welt wires I4to assume the position shown in Fig. 13, the latches II6 spring-seatedlyholding them in this position while the continued upward movement of thenarrowing machine causes the welt wires to snap out of their supportingslots I2 past the spring-seated lock latches I8. The welt wires nowassume the'position shown in Fig. 14, to engage with and tension thefabric beneaththe welt hooks 52. This doubling of the welt fabric andthetakingover of the fabric take-up action by the welt wires I4, takesplace before the welt pendants have reached the end of their outward orfabric take-up movement, so that, for at least some few courses, thewelt hooks 52 and the welt wires I4 both act to take up the fabric.Shortly thereafter, the welt hooks reach the end of their outwardmovement and the welt wires I4 alone take over the action of taking upthe fabric.

As in ordinary practice, the operator, after, forming the picot coursejust described, manu.-"

ally turns up the picot bars into the position shown in Fig. 2, doingthis at any time during the knitting of the leg but before the firstnarrowing machine leg shaping movement. After they have been so turnedup, the operator, manually and while the machine is knitting, lays intothe supporting slots I2, a spare set of welt wires I4 which are thewires that are going to be used in the next set. These welt wires I4will in no way interfere with the ordinary motion of the narrowingmachine, as the picot bars which support them will not be turned downagain until the next set.

When sufficient fabric has been knitted, the

pendant take-ups 96 and the take-up arm or arms I24 will reach theposition shown in dotandadash lines in Fig. 2, in which they have juststarted to contact the upper adjusting screw of the latch lever I52. Asmorefabric is knitted, the lever I24 acts against the latch lever I52 todisengage the lug I60 from the tail I62 of the grab I50, so that theregular fabric take-up counterweight, not shown, is permitted to turnthe take-up rolls 90 in a clockwise direction (see Fig. 2), therebycausing all the grabs I50 to assume the dot-and-dash position shown inFig. 2. These grabs I50 engage with the take-up wires I4, and as thependant take-ups 96 continue to take up the fabric, cause the take-upwires I4 to be cammed out of their hooks I04 and spring-pressed locklatches H6 at about the time the welt wires are immediately above theaxes of the take-up rolls 90, the inner curve of the grabs I50 being soformed as to gradually bring the welt wires and fabric in contact withthe outer circumference of the fabric rolls 90. The pendant take-ups 96released from engagement with the welt wires I4, move outwardly to aninoperative position determined by the engagement of the lever arm I24with the stop I58, as shown in dot-and-dash lines in Fig. 2. The fabricduring continued knitting is wrapped around take-up. rolls 90 as inordinary practice.

It will be understood that the invention is not limited to the specificembodiment shown, and that various deviations may be made therefromwithout departing from the spirit and scope of the appended claims,

What is claimed is:

1. In a flat knitting machine having welt turning mechanism associatedtherewith, the combination with a welt wire, of a support on which thewelt wire'is located in position for subsequent engagement with the weltfabric, a fabric take-up, and means for imparting positioning movementto the take-up and to the support to operatively connect the take-upwith the welt wire.

2. In a flat knitting machine having a welt turning mechanism, thecombination with a welt wire, of a support for the welt wire, fabrictakeup means including hook elements for engaging the welt wire, andmeans for imparting relative positioning movement to the take-up meansand support to engage the hooks with the welt wire while held on saidsupport and for thereafter moving the welt wire to take up the fabric,

3. In a fiat knitting machine having a narrowing frame and welt turningmechanism associated therewith, the combination with a welt wire, of asupport for the welt wire on the narrowing frame, a fabric take-up, andsupporting means on which the take-up is movable to engage with and drawthe welt wire against the welt portion. of the fabric,

4. In a fiat knitting machine having a narrowing frame and welt turningmechanism associated therewith, the combination with a welt wire, of a.support for the welt wire on the narrowing frame, a fabric take-up, andmeans for imparting relative positioning movements to the narrowing'frame and take-up to operatively connect the take-up with the welt wire.

5. In a flat knitting machine having a series of needles and cooperatingknitting elements including a narrowing frame and welt turning mechanismassociated therewith, the combination of'a picot bar, pivotal supportingmeans on the narrowing frame on which the picot bar is movable into andout of operative position, a welt wire, and a welt wire support mounted'to move as,a unit with the picot bar.

6.'In a fiat knitting machine having a series of needles and cooperatingknitting elements including a narrowing frame and welt turning mechanismassociated therewith, the combination of a picot bar, pivotal supportingmeans on the narrowing frame on which the picot bar is movable into andout of operative position, a welt wire, and a welt wire-support on thepicot bar comprising'holders and latches associated therewith forpositioning the welt wires.

'7. In a fiat knitting machine having a series of needles andcooperatingknitting elements including a narrowing frame anifweltturning mechanism associated therewith, the combination of a picot bar,pivotal supporting means on the narrowing frame on which the plcot baris movable into and out of operative position, a welt wire,

and a welt wire support comprising holders supported integrally with theplcot bar slotted to receive a welt wire and spring latches forretaining the welt wiresin the recesses.

8. Inc. fiat knitting machine having a series of needles and cooperatingknitting elements including a-narrowing frame and welt turning mechanismassociated therewith, the combination of a plcot bar supported formovement on the frame into and out of operative position, a welt wire, asupport mounted on the picot bar on which the welt wire is located forsubsequent engagement with the welt fabric, a fabric take-up, and atake-up support on which the take-up is movable to engage with and drawthe welt wire against the welt portion of the fabric.

91 In a flat knitting machine having a series of needles and cooperatingknitting elements including a narrowing frame and welt turning mechanismassociated therewith, the combination of a plcot bar supported formovement on the frame into and out of operative position, a welt wire, a

welt wire support movable with the plcot bar,

fabric take-up means including hook elements for engaging the welt wire,and supporting and guiding means for the take-up arranged for theoperative position of the plcot bar and welt wire support to engage thehooks with and move the -welt wire against the welt portion of thefabric.

10. In a flat knitting machine having a series of needles andcooperating knitting elements including a narrowing frame and weltturning mechanism associated therewith, the combination of a plcot barpivotaliy mounted on the frame for movement into and out of operativeposition, a welt wire, a support for the welt wire movable with thepicot bar and arranged for the operative position of the bar to positionthe welt wire on that side of the welt bar remote from the needleseries, fabric take-up means including hook elements for engaging thewelt wire, and supporting and guiding means for the take-up arranged forthe operative position of the picot bar and welt wire. support-to engagethe hooks with and'move the welt wire against the welt portion of thefabric.

11. In a hat knitting machine having welt turning mechanism associatedtherewith, the

combination with a welt wire, of a support on which the welt wire islocated for subsequent engagement with the welt fabric, a fabric rollertake-up, intervening take-up means including welt wire engaging members.actuating means for operatively connecting said intervening takeup totension the welt wire against the fabric, and means for-automaticallytransferring the welt wire and fabric engaged. thereby from saidintervening take-up welt wire engaging members to the fabric rollertake-up,

12. In a flat knitting machine having a series of needles and weltturning mechanism associ ated therewith, the comibination with a weltwire, of a support on which the welt wire is located in position forsubsequent engagement with the welt fabric, a pendant fabric take-upcomprising a pivotal support located above the needles, re-

- silient take-up members supported therefrom ara latch forlocking theroller take-up out of operation, and connections actuated from saidpendant take-up to release the latch.

13. In a flat knitting machine having welt turning mechanism associatedtherewith, the combination with instrumentalities for setting up and fortaking up the welt fabric as knitted, a main fabric take-up, anintermediate take-up arranged to take up a fold of welt fabric, meansfor rendering said intermediate take-up operative and saidinstrumentalities inoperative to take up the fabric, and means forrendering said intermediate take-up inoperative and said main take-upoperative to continue said fabric takeup action.

14. In a flat knitting machine having welt tuming mechanism associatedtherewith, the combination with instrumentalities for setting up and fortaking up the welt fabric as knitted, a main fabric take-up, anintermediate fabric take-up take-up operative to continue said fabrictake-up action.

15. In a flat knitting machine having welt turning mechanism associatedtherewith, the combination with instrumentalities for setting up andtaking up the welt fabric as knitted, a welt wire, an intermediatefabric take-up connectible with the welt wire to take up a fold of weltfabric, a mainfabric take-up, and means for rendering said interveningtake-up inoperative and said main take-up operative to take up the weltwire and fabric attached thereto.

16. In a multiple section flat full-fashioned knitting machine having awelt turning mechanism associated therewith, the combination withinstrumentalities for setting up and taking up thewelt fabric asknitted, a welt wire for each knitting section, an intermediate fabrictake-up for each section connectible with the welt wire to take up afold of welt fabric, a main fabric takeup for each section, and meansfor rendering said intermediate take-ups simultaneously inoperativeandfor rendering said main take-ups simultaneously operative to take up thewelt wires and fabrics attached thereto.

1'1. In a fiat knitting machine having welt tuming mechanism associatedtherewith, the combination with instrumentalities for setting up andtaking up the welt fabric as knitted, a wait wire, an intermediatefabric take-up connectible with the welt wire to take-up a fold of thewelt fabric,

ative to take'up the welt wire and fabric attached thereto.

18. In a flat knitting machine having welt turning mechanism associatedtherewith, the combination with instrumentalities arranged to set up andto take'up the welt fabric as knitted, a support into which the weltwire can be laid prior to the time it is required, a main fabrictake-up, an intervening fabric take-up, actuating means for operativelyconnecting said intervening take-up with the welt wire and fortensioning the welt wire against the fabric, and means for renderingsaid intervening take-up inoperative sitioning movement to the supportand take-"up,

means to engage the take-up with the welt wire and for thereafter movingthe welt wire to take up a fold of welt fabric, and control means forrendering said last mentioned means operative to cause the welt wire totake up the fabric during the continued take-up action of saidinstrumentalities.

20. In a fiat full-fashioned knitting machine "arranged for knittingwelt fabric, a fabric take-up device including a welt wire and take-upmeans connected thereto, a support into which the welt wire can be laidprior to the time that it is required, and means for relatively movingthe support and take-up means to operatively connect the welt wire withthe take-up means while held in said support, said support and welt wirehaving surfaces disposed transversely of said ,welt wire for operativeengagement to control the lengthwise poshaion of the welt wire. 7

21. Ina flat full-fashioned knitting machine arrangedfor knitting weltfabric, a welt wire having formed therein annular groove portions, 2.weltwire support comprising slotted supporting elements engaging withsaid annular grooves, a fabric take-up means including welt wireengaging members engageable with said grooves, and means for relativelymoving the support and take-up means to operatively connect said weltwire engaging members with the groove portions of said welt wire and totake up the fabric;

22. In a flat knitting machine arranged for knitting welted fabric, thecombination with a narrowing frame, of a welt wire, a fabric take-upconnectible with the welt wire, means for supporting the take-up inposition to receive the welt wire, and means controlled by movement ofthe narrowing frame to cause the take-up to take up the fabric.

23. In a flat knitting machine adapted for knitting welted fabrics, thecombination with a narrowing frame, of a welt wire, a support for hewelt wire and the narrowing frame, a fabric take-up connectible with thewelt wire, means for. supporting the fabric take-up in position toreceive the welt wire from the support, and means controlled by aclipping movement of the narrowing frame to operatively connect the weltwire .with the take-up.

24. In a flat knitting machine adapted for knitting welted fabrics, thecombination with a narrowing frame, of a. welt wire, a support for thewelt wire on the narrowing frame, a fabric take-up connectible with thewelt wire, means for supporting the fabric take-up in position toreceive the welt wire from the support, means controlled by a dippingmovement of the narrowing frame to operatively connect the welt wirewith the take-up, and thereafter to cause the welt wire and take-up totake up the fabric.

25. In a flat knitting machine having a series of needles and weltturning mechanism associated therewith, the combination with a weltwire, of support on which the welt wire is located for subsequentengagement with the welt fabric, a fabric take-up comprising a pivotallymounted swinging supported thereon for engagement with the welt wire,and latching means for retaining the'welt wire in engagement with saidtake-up members, and means for imparting relative movement to thesupport and take-up to operatively connect the welt wire from thesupport with said take-up.

27. In a flat knitting machine having welt turning mechanism associatedtherewith, the combination with a welt wire, of a support on which thewelt wire is located for subsequent engagement with the welt fabric, afabric take-up, and means for imparting relative positioning movement tothe take-up and support to operatively connect the take-up with the weltwire, and thereafter to remove the welt wire from said support.

28. In a multiple section flat full-fashioned knitting machine having awelt turning mechanism associated therewith, the combination with a weltwire for each section, of a support associated with each knittingsection on which the welt wire is located, fabric take-up meansassociated with each knitting section, means for simultaneouslyimparting relative positioning movements to the take-ups and supportsassociated with the several knitting sections to operatively connect thetake-ups with the welt wires, and means for simultaneously resettingsaid fabric take-up means in position for said relative positioningmovements.

29. In a multiple section flat full-fashioned knitting machine having awelt turning mechanism associated therewith, the combination with a weltwire for each section, of a support associated with each knittingsection on which the welt wire is located, fabric take-up meansassociated with each knitting section, positioning means for saidtake-ups including latching means, means for simultaneously impartingrelative positioning movements to said supports and to said take-upsunder the control of said latching means to operatively connect thetake-up with the welt wire, and means for simultaneously resetting saidfabric take-ups in latched position.

30. In a multiple section fiat full-fashioned knitting machine having awelt turning mechanism associated therewith, the combination with aweltwire for each section, of a support associated with each knittingsection on which the welt wire is located, fabric take-up meansassociated with each knitting section, locating means for said take-upsincluding latching means, means for simultaneously imparting relativepositioning movement to the supports and take-ups under the control ofsaid latching means to operatively connect the take-ups with the weltwires and for releasing said latching-means to engage the Welt wiresagainst the fabric, and means for simultaneously resetting said fabrictake-ups in latched position.

31. In a fiat knitting machine arranged for mechanically turning thewelt, a welt bar, a welt wire, a welt wire support mounted independently,of and movable with relation to the welt bar into was 5 connect thetake-up with the welt wire to tension the fold of welt fabric.

32. In a flat knitting machine arranged for mechanically turning thewelt, the combination with a needle series, a welt bar,-and means forinparting a draw-oi! action to the welt bar to take up the fabric,

movable with relation to the welt bar into which the welt wire can belaid in advance of the time it is required, fabric take-up means, andautomatic means for imparting relative positioning movement to thetake-up and support to operatively connect the take-up with the weltwire to tension the fold of welt fabric during continued take-up of thewelt bar.

33. In a flat knitting machine arranged for mechanically turning thewelt, a welt wire, a support on which the welt wire is positioned,fabric take-up means, and means for automatically imparting relativepositioning movement to the takeup and support to operatively connectthe take-up with the welt wire, said support and take-up beingconstructed and having the relative movement thereof arranged to causethe welt wire to be positively and continuously supported and controlledat all times by said support and take-up. 34. In a flat knitting machinearranged for mechanically turning the welt, awelt wire, a support onwhich the welt wire is positioned, fabric take-up means, means forautomatically imparting relative positioning movement to the takeup andsupport to operatively connect the takeup with the welt wire, saidsupport and take-up being constructed and having the relative movementthereof arranged to cause the'welt wire to 9 be positively andcontinuously supported and controlled at all times by said support andtake-up, and including restraining means to prevent endwise movement ofthe welt wire in its support.

35. In a flat knitting machine arranged for mechanically turning thewelt, a welt wire, a support on which the welt wireiLpositioned,fabrictake-up means, and means for automatically imparting relative Vpositioning movement to the take-up and support to op'eratively connectthe take-up with the welt wirewhile held in said support, andrestrainingme v of said support and take-up to prevent endwise movement of the weltwire.

38. In a flat knitting machine arranged for turningtheweltowe M D-taneously resetting said fabric take-ups in posiated with each port onwhich the welt wire is positioned, fabric take-up means including weltwire engaging I hooks, and means for automatically imparting relativepositioning movement to the take-up and support to operatively connectthe take-up with the-welt wire, said support and take-up beingconstructed and having the relative movement thereof arranged to causethe welt wire to be positively supported and controlled at all times bysaid support and take-up, and including rea welt wire, a welt wiresupport straining elements associated with the take-up hooks having aresilient action to hold the welt nism associated therewith, thecombination with a welt wire for each section, of a support associatedwith each knitting section on which the welt wire is located, fabrictake-up means associated with each knitting section, means forsimultaneously imparting relative positioning movements to the take-upsand supports associated with the several knitting sections tooperatively connect the take-ups with the welt wires, said supports andtake-ups being constructed and having the relative movementthereofarranged to cause the welt wires to be positively andcontinuously supported and controlled at all times by said supports andtake-ups,.and means for simultion for said relative positioningmovements.

38. In a flat, knittingv machine arranged for mechanically turning thewelt, the combination with a welt wire, of a support into which the wirecan be laid prior to the time that it is required, restraining means forholding the welt wire in its support, a fabric-take-up, and means forimparting relative positioning .movement to the take-up and support tooperatively connect the take-up with the welt wire, and thereafter toremove the welt wire from the support;

39. In a flat knitting machine arranged for mechanically turning thewelt, the combination with a welt wire, of a support into which the weltwire can be laid prior tothe time when it is required, and movable tolocate the welt wire in active position, restraining means for holdingthe welt wire in its support, a fabric take-up, and means for impartingrelative positioning movement to the take-up and support to operativelyconnect the take-up with the welt wire, and thereafter toremovetheweltwire fromthe sup-- MAZC. mm.

